In 1975, Balbaa graduated from the University of Alexandria (Alexandria, Egypt) with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry and carried out a biochemical thesis there from 1977 to 1979 to complete his master's degree in 1979. From 1984 to 1988, he received his Ph.D. from Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Japan. During his research work in Japan, he finished different topics in protein, which were published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry and Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. He returned to Alexandria University in 1989 and was appointed a lecturer of biochemistry in the Faculty of Science. He went to Toronto University, Canada in 1989, and Hokkaido University, Japan in 1993, as a postdoctoral fellow. Balbaa was named in 1999 as Professor of Biochemistry at the Faculty of Science, University of Alexandria, Egypt. In 2002, he moved to the University of Qatar (Doha, Qatar) to serve as a biochemistry professor and returned to Alexandria University, Egypt, in 2006. He was appointed chairman of the Department of Biochemistry at Alexandria University, Egypt, from 2007 to 2009. In 2009, he again moved to Beirut Arab University (Beirut, Lebanon) and worked back as a professor of biochemistry, moving to Alexandria University in 2014. His research has included the study of enzyme characterization, enzyme inhibition, cell signaling, the biochemical parameters in diseases, and insulin-induced signaling. He is serving as an expert reviewer for many journals. He has authorized more than 60 peer-reviewed research articles. Currently, he is a professor emeritus of biochemistry at Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Egypt.